Eco-fashion is a term that denotes the commitment of designers to produce and promote the use of sustainable, ethical and environmentally-conscious products. The term is contemporary; however, a green relationship between fashion designers and environmentalists has existed for centuries.
The major concerns of green fashion are the following:
- Recycling of materials
- Origin of material (fair trade concerns)
- Textile dying and production
- Quality of craftmanship
- Fair labor practices
- Humane treatment of animals
Eco-fashion has evolved further to include reducing consumption and recognizing the need to be stylish while being fashionably green. This movement focuses on centering a wardrobe around the basics, i.e., the little black dress or basic suit, and then accessorizing with scarves, jewelry and shoes to transition a look for different periods of the day or various events. Magazines, television shows, You Tube videos now feature helpful money-saving and style-enhancing techniques to look nice and be green. Also, there are several books available on the market that provide great tips on everyday and specialty and seasonal dressing, all accomplished in a tasteful, frugal and green manner. An excellent place to start is with Katy Tsui‘s blog on the Huffington Post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kaity-tsui/10-fashion-resources_b_1609629.html?utm_hp_ref=stylelist&ir=Stylelist. Katy provides great multimedia references on the subject of fashion. Her dialogue on green responsibility is refreshing in its simplicity.
There are so many ways to go green, and eco-fashion is a fun way to get involved.
Let’s dress green, go green, be green!